Competing for Cameron

KETTERING, Ohio (WDTN) - Cameron Hartman is a 5th grader at Stingley Elementary School in Centerville. The 10-year-old was diagnosed last year with a severe immune deficiency syndrome that only affects 50 people in the world.

"Since a baby he's had ear infections, constant infections, in and out of the hospital. 2009, he had a really bad infection where he almost died, was in ICU, had 10 surgeries in 5 days, that's when they really started to look and this past October he was diagnosed with DOCK8 mutation," says Cameron's mother, Amy Hartman.

The only treatment is a costly bone marrow transplant.

"They can't tell me it's a long-term cure but without it, all the kids that have it, have died by young adulthood from either infections or cancer," explains Hartman.

This year, Centerville High School's student council decided Cameron would be the perfect person to receive the money from their spirit chain competition with Fairmont High School.

"Since I've met Cameron and the people on student council have met Cameron, we know exactly where it's going to go and we know that he's a good kid and he deserves this money. There's definitely room for it because he has so many hospital bills," comments Centerville High School's Student Body President, senior Greg Feingold.

Right now, Cameron is at Cincinnati Children's Hospital, so he couldn't be there at the football game Friday night at Roush Field for the big reveal to see which school raised the most money. Fairmont finished with nearly $93,000 while Centerville came in at $60,000 dollars.
Even though the Elks lost the competition, it's still a win for Cameron.

"Now I know I don't have anything to worry about. I can stay and be at the hospital with Cameron and not have to worry about how I'm going to pay for anything. It's truly a blessing," says Hartman.

Because Cameron's Elementary School raised more than $2,000 for this competition, his guidance counselor is shaving her head in support of him on October 12 at 8:00 am.